ENGLAND are trying to tempt Everton striker Tom Cannon into picking them over Republic of Ireland.
Cannon, 20, is tipped to be half of a devastating Irish double act alongside Brighton’s Evan Ferguson for the next decade.
Ireland and England look set to fight it out for Everton man Tom Cannon
It is understood he will have a big decision to make regarding his international future
But FA chiefs contacted the Liverpool-born ace offering him a chance to play for Three Lions U21s next season.
Cannon, whose family are Irish, has already played for the Republic at that level and was tipped to be in Stephen Kenny’s squad for their upcoming Euro qualifiers against Greece and Gibraltar.
But the forward — who joined Preston on loan in January — was forced out of a training camp with a virus, keeping the door open for England.
Jack Grealish and Declan Rice both opted to go with the Three Lions ahead of Ireland but Cannon will want time to make his choice as he cannot swap allegiances twice.
Former Ireland boss Martin O’Neill defended Grealish and Rice after their switch to England.
Man City star Grealish played for Ireland’s U21 but refused a call-up from O’Neill to join the senior squad in 2015 as a 20-year-old.
Rice decided to swap Ireland for England after playing three friendlies for the Boys in Green.
Speaking during the Qatar World Cup, O’Neill said: “You can’t coerce players into becoming international players.
“I played Declan Rice three times in three friendly games.
“He was only a young kid, he played in three friendly games at senior level. He was terrific in the games.”
He then went on to add: “It’s as simple as this – Declan Rice wanted to play for England.
“Do you think that Declan Rice now at this minute going to play in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, do you think that he’s regretting making the decision that he wanted to play [for England]?”
Jack Grealish switched from Ireland to England
Declan Rice also switched his national allegiance
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